The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-01-06
The GRANT FAMILY.
An Interesting Chat with Harrison, thu
BOdy-SerVant of the Late General.

An Interesting Chat with Harrison, thu
BOdy-Servant of the Late General.
Harrison tells me that Colonel Fred
Grant is in business in New York and
that the family are living there. Jesse
Grant is in San Francisco, and Ulysses
is attending to the interests of his wife
estate in Mexico. / asked him as to
how Grant felt when he gave his relics
over to the Government. He replied
that the General was very well pleased
that the Government could get them.
General Grant said he felt that they
ought to be kept together, and if they
were divided among his family they
would be scattered. There was dan
ger at the time" said Harrison" that
the creditors of Grant & Ward might
take them, and 1 remember well when
had finished packing them, and told
him that they were all ready for ship
ping, how much relieved he looked, and
how he said, Il am very glad of it p"
But the taking away of those relics. "
said Harrison, made little difference in
the looks of Grants house. The rooms
were only bare for day or two. After
that they were filled with things fully as
curious, and some almost as valuable.
don't suppose any man ever received
rs many presents as General Grant. He
lid not know what he had. There were
boxes upon boxes of rare and curious
things stored away which had been
shipped from Europe during his tour,
and some of which had never
been unpacked. A great many things
lad been put away because he had not
room for them, and these had been for
gotten. They were brought out after
the relics were sent to Washington, and
( thought the house looked really better
than ever"
when did General Grant first realize
the fact of his approaching death?'
cit was at DR.. Douglas Office in New
York. He was alone with DR.. Douglas
and myself. Grant had just had an
examination of his throat, and he asked
Dr.. Douglas if he could assure him that
his trouble would not develop into 4
cancer Douglas told him that he could
not assure him of this fact, but that he
hoped he might be able to cure him.
General Grant then said: If you think
thus, DIR. Douglas, there is hope for me.
Soon after this Grants carriage came
and we went away. As we drove off he
told me not to say any thing to the
family as to what DIR. Douglas had said.
Throughout his whole sickness General
Grants family never knew how much
pain he suffered. From the time OF his
sickness till his death | was not two
hours absent from him. Many nights
he would walk the floor all night. When
the family would ask him in the morn
ing how he had rested he would say
pretty well. and would try to appear
cheerful. He had the most terrible pain
all the time, and l don't think he had a
moments cessation from pain during
those last months. He felt greatly re-
Iieved when he had finished his book,
and his happiest days were those just
before his death. During his whole
sickness he never grew irritable or lost
ais temper. He was the kindest man l
ever knew, and he had a great love for
his family. Mrs. Grant called him Ulys-
SEES and she was very fond of him. He
always called her Mrs. Grant, and he
was certainly one of the best of hus-
bands. Washington Cor. Cleveland
Leader.